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Health Minister Urges People Who Have Thrown Away Their TraceTogether Tokens to Report It for a Replacement

2022-05-10 , 10:28 am

Even though there barely seems any use for your TraceTogether token or app now, don’t kanchiong and get rid of them just yet.

But if you have already done so or accidentally misplaced it, and got spooked by the fact that it is an offence, there is a solution.

“Step Down but Not Dismantle”

But first, why keep the app and token if there are no more SafeEntry requirements?

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung cautions that the COVID-19 situation is uncertain and Singapore may need to step up contact tracing measures should the pandemic worsen.

“We are taking a cautious, ‘step down but not dismantle’ posture for our public health measures,” he said on Monday (9 May).

Decision Dependent on Virus Situation

Mr Ong also added that the decision to step up measures is dependent on how severe the virus situation is. This includes whether a new variant arises and if it is more severe or more infectious than Omicron.

Other factors that will affect the decision are whether past infections and current vaccines continue to confer strong protection against the new variant, and how all these factors affect the country’s hospital capacity.

However, due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, it is difficult to establish clear guidelines for the reactivation of TraceTogether and SafeEntry as contact tracing tools, he said.

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Get a Replacement for Lost Tokens

Now, you might have gotten all worried after it was reported that throwing away TraceTogether tokens, even accidentally, was an offence.

But don’t fret just yet.

Those who have inadvertently thrown away their tokens should simply report having done so.

Mr Ong said that government agencies will assist in helping individuals replace them. He added that the main concern is not the loss of the token but rather making sure everyone is ready to respond in the event that the pandemic worsens.

Reviewing VDS Measures

Mr Ong was also asked whether Singapore’s vaccination-differentiated measures (VDS) will be eased so that unvaccinated people can dine at food and beverage outlets.

He replied that Singapore will continue to review VDS measures as the pandemic situation evolves.

At present, these rules have been lifted in all except three risky settings – nightlife outlets with dancing, events with more than 500 people present at any one time, and food and beverage outlets.

But he stressed that in a pandemic, an individual’s decision affects the rest of society and the healthcare system.

Although 3.5 per cent of the population is not fully vaccinated, these people account for 20 per cent of deaths and cases in intensive care.